Congratulations! You made it! You survived and excelled in your student teaching. You are now a science teacher! If you would, take a few minutes to share your wisdom about how to negotiate this difficult year with the students who are following in your footsteps by answering the following questions.
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
To make student teaching go more smoothly I would find out in the fall an overview of all the units your CT anticipates you will be teaching. Then I would get an idea of some activities and lab's you could use for each topic. Making notes and tests and things is less time consuming and can be done easier while your student teaching than planning elaborate labs. I found that I had the best activities for the unit I made my unit plan for but only because of the time I spent finding good activities. I also found that any notes or tests you make before you really know your students will probably have to be adjusted anyway. b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
In order to prepare for student teaching in EDC 430 I would make sure to spend a lot of time on my unit plan as well as looking at some of the other units your CT anticipates you will be teaching.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
I think one thing that helped me alot for student teaching was spending as much time as possible in the classroom during fall semester. This allows you to get to know your students as much as possible before you begin teaching them. It also allows the students to get to know you which helps alot with the transition from their regular teacher to you. This helps a lot because if the students see you alot (go to after school activities to!) because then they know you care and you will be less likely to have classroom management problems. d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
Form a good relationship with your CT in the fall. My CT and I got along great but I heard from others that they did not get along with their CT and that it made student teaching very difficult.
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
To make student teaching go more smoothly I would find out in the fall an overview of all the units your CT anticipates you will be teaching. Then I would get an idea of some activities and lab's you could use for each topic. Making notes and tests and things is less time consuming and can be done easier while your student teaching than planning elaborate labs. I found that I had the best activities for the unit I made my unit plan for but only because of the time I spent finding good activities. I also found that any notes or tests you make before you really know your students will probably have to be adjusted anyway.
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
In order to prepare for student teaching in EDC 430 I would make sure to spend a lot of time on my unit plan as well as looking at some of the other units your CT anticipates you will be teaching.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
I think one thing that helped me alot for student teaching was spending as much time as possible in the classroom during fall semester. This allows you to get to know your students as much as possible before you begin teaching them. It also allows the students to get to know you which helps alot with the transition from their regular teacher to you. This helps a lot because if the students see you alot (go to after school activities to!) because then they know you care and you will be less likely to have classroom management problems.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
Form a good relationship with your CT in the fall. My CT and I got along great but I heard from others that they did not get along with their CT and that it made student teaching very difficult.